Pressurized-fluid control mechanism and pressurized-fluid supply device

ABSTRACT

A pressurized-fluid control mechanism for controlling the ejection of a compressed carbonic gas C charged into a gas container vessel ( 3 ), and a Pressurized-Fluid Supply device that makes use of the pressurized-fluid control mechanism, are disclosed. The pressurized-fluid control mechanism is mounted on the gas container vessel filled with the compressed carbonic gas C to control the ejection of the compressed carbonic gas C charged into the gas container vessel. The pressurized-fluid control mechanism includes a sealing plate ( 13 ) that stops up an opening ( 4 ) of the gas container vessel, and an acute pointed member ( 17 ) provided towards its extreme end. A sealing part ( 19 ) progressively reduced in its diameter is formed at an extreme end of the acute pointed member. The pressurized-fluid control mechanism also includes a coil spring ( 23 ) that biases the acute pointed member. The acute pointed member ( 17 ), used in this pressurized-fluid control mechanism, is arranged within the gas container vessel and adapted to be moved back and forth in the gas container vessel to open/close an ejection opening ( 18 ) formed in the sealing plate. The acute pointed member is biased by the coil spring to fit a sealing part into the ejection opening to close the opening.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a pressurized-fluid control mechanism forcontrolling the ejection of a pressurized fluid, such as a high pressuregas, charged into a container vessel, and to a Pressurized-Fluid Supplydevice that makes use of this pressurized-fluid control mechanism.

BACKGROUND ART

A gas spraying device has so far been used for removing dust and dirtaffixed to a device such as a feed mechanism for an elongated magnetictape or sheet, or a semiconductor manufacturing device. The gas sprayingdevice of this sort is adapted for ejecting a high pressure gas, apressurized gas charged into a container vessel, via an ejectionopening. The high pressure gas, charged into the container vessel, isejected by actuating a valve device fitted on the container vessel.

There is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication 2003-146393a Pressurized-Fluid Supply device in which a pressurized gas is ejectedfrom a container vessel filled with the pressurized gas as thepressurized fluid. In the device described in this Publication, a needleis pierced through a sealing plate that closes an opening of a gascontainer, thereby forming a gas ejection opening. The gas container isa container vessel filled with the pressurized fluid, The gas ejectionopening is opened or closed by the needle that has formed it in order tocontrol the gas ejection.

In the Pressurized-Fluid Supply device, disclosed in the above PatentPublication, the opening/closure of the gas ejection opening formed inthe sealing plate is controlled by the needle provided outside thecontainer vessel filled with the pressurized gas. It is thus possible tocontrol the gas ejection by a simplified structure.

However, in the Pressurized-Fluid Supply device, configured as describedabove, the structure that controls the movement of the needle, in turncontrolling the opening/closure of the gas ejection opening, iscomplicated in structure.

On the other hand, in a Pressurized-Fluid Supply device, used forremoving dust and dirt, such as a gas spraying device, there is a demandthat the device is reduced in size so that it may be held by hand andmoved about for use.

In a small-sized Pressurized-Fluid Supply device, it is desired thatejection control may be attained without requiring a large operatingforce in order to realize ejection control of a pressurized fluid withhigh operability.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a pressurized-fluidcontrol mechanism which may be reduced in size and in which ejection ofa pressurized fluid, such as a pressurized gas, charged in a containervessel, may be controlled extremely readily with high operability withthe use of a simpler mechanism, and a Pressurized-Fluid Supply devicemaking use of this pressurized-fluid control mechanism.

It is another object of the present invention to provide apressurized-fluid control mechanism in which ejection of a pressurizedfluid may be controlled with high operability, and a Pressurized-FluidSupply device making use of this pressurized-fluid control mechanism.

The present invention provides a pressurized-fluid control mechanismmounted on a pressurized fluid container filled with a pressurized fluidto control ejection of a pressurized fluid charged into the pressurizedfluid container. The pressurized-fluid control mechanism of the presentinvention includes an acute pointed member including a sealing part atits distal end. The sealing member is reduced in diameter from aproximal end towards the distal end. The pressurized-fluid controlmechanism of the present invention also includes a biasing member forbiasing the acute pointed member. The acute pointed member is arrangedin the inside of the pressurized fluid container and moved back andforth in the inside of the pressurized fluid container to open or closean ejection opening for the pressurized fluid provided in thepressurized fluid container. The acute pointed member is biased by thebiasing member so that the sealing part is fitted into the ejectionopening to close the ejection hole.

The acute pointed member is supported by a movable member movable bybeing guided by a movement guide provided on the pressurized fluidcontainer. There is formed a passageway for a pressurized fluid betweenthe movable member and the movement guide. There is formed a spacingbetween a sealing plate and the movable member when a sealing part ofthe acute pointed member is fitted in the ejection opening to stop theejection opening. The pressurized fluid charged in the pressurized fluidcontainer flows into this spacing.

When the sealing part is fitted in the ejection opening to stop theejection opening, the distal end of the sealing part is protruded viathe ejection opening to outside of the pressurized fluid container. Theprotruded portion of the distal end of the sealing part may be thrustand thereby moved to open the ejection opening.

The ejection opening is provided in a sealing plate that closes anopening of the pressurized fluid container. Preferably, the sealingplate is formed of synthetic resin, and the acute pointed member isformed of metal.

The present invention also provides a Pressurized-Fluid Supply deviceincluding a pressurized fluid container filled with a pressurized fluid,and a pressurized-fluid control mechanism mounted on the pressurizedfluid container. The pressurized-fluid control mechanism opens or closesan ejection opening for the pressurized fluid provided in thepressurized fluid container to control the ejection of the pressurizedfluid charged in the pressurized fluid container. The pressurized-fluidcontrol mechanism includes an acute pointed member provided with asealing part at its distal end, and a biasing member for biasing theacute pointed member. The sealing part is progressively reduced indiameter from a proximal end towards the distal end. The acute pointedmember is supported by a movable member moved by being guided by amovement guide provided on the side the pressurized fluid container.There is formed a passageway for the pressurized fluid between themovable member and a movement guide. There is formed a spacing intowhich flows the pressurized fluid charged in the pressurized fluidcontainer when the sealing part of the acute pointed member is fitted inthe ejection opening to stop the ejection opening.

When the sealing part of the acute pointed member is fitted in theejection opening to close it, the distal end of the sealing part isprotruded via the ejection opening. This protruded portion may be thrustand thereby moved to open the ejection opening.

The Pressurized-Fluid Supply device according to the present inventionincludes an opening/closure actuating mechanism that thrusts the acutepointed member against the bias of the biasing member to open theejection opening.

In the pressurized-fluid control mechanism and in the Pressurized-FluidSupply device that makes use of this pressurized-fluid controlmechanism, the small-sized ejection opening formed in the sealing platemay be controlled to be opened or closed by the acute pointed memberarranged in the pressurized fluid container filled with the pressurizedfluid. Hence, the ejection of the pressurized fluid, such as apressurized gas, charged into the container vessel, may be controlledwith ease by a simpler mechanism. In addition, the control mechanism andthe supply device itself may be reduced in size.

In particular, in the pressurized-fluid control mechanism and in thePressurized-Fluid Supply device that makes use of this pressurized-fluidcontrol mechanism, according to the present invention, the ejectionopening is closed just by the acute pointed member arranged in thepressurized fluid container. Hence, the total pressure applied to themember that closes the ejection opening may be made small, so that theejection opening may be opened or closed with ease with a light force.It is thus possible to construct a Pressurized-Fluid Supply device ofhigh operability.

Other advantages of the present invention will become more apparent fromthe following description which is made in conjunction with thedrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of aPressurized-Fluid Supply device that makes use of a pressurized-fluidcontrol mechanism according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the Pressurized-Fluid Supply deviceshowing the state in which the gas ejection opening has been closed bythe acute pointed member.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the pressurized-fluidcontrol mechanism according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which the gasejection opening has been closed by the sealing part of the acutepointed member.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the pressurized-fluid controlmechanism showing the state in which the gas ejection opening has beenopened.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which the acutepointed member is moved to open the gas ejection opening.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Preferred embodiments of a pressurized-fluid control mechanism and aPressurized-Fluid Supply device that uses this pressurized-fluid controlmechanism, according to the present invention, will now be described indetail.

A preferred embodiment of a pressurized-fluid control mechanism thatcontrols ejection of a pressurized carbonic gas from a pressurized fluidcontainer filled with the compressed carbonic gas as a pressurized fluidwill now be described. A preferred embodiment of a Pressurized-FluidSupply device that uses this pressurized-fluid control mechanism willalso be described. In the following description, a compressed carbonicgas is referred to simply as a carbonic gas.

A pressurized-fluid control mechanism 1 according to the presentinvention is applied to a Pressurized-Fluid Supply device 2 shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. The Pressurized-Fluid Supply device 2 includes a gascontainer vessel 3 in which the carbonic gas as pressurized gas has beencharged, or is adapted to be charged. This gas container vessel 3 has amechanical strength sufficient to be filled with a compressed liquefiedcarbonic gas, and is formed from metal, such as iron, to the shape of abottomed cylinder.

Referring to FIG. 2, the gas container vessel 3 includes a vessel main 3a whose upper end is formed as a tubular reduced-diameter portion 3 b,as shown in FIG. 2. This reduced-diameter portion 3 b is prepared byreducing-molding an upper end of the vessel main 3 a so as to have anend opening 4. The pressurized-fluid control mechanism 1 is arranged soas to be accommodated within this reduced-diameter portion 3 b.

The gas container vessel 3, within which the pressurized-fluid controlmechanism 1 is mounted, is housed within a vessel container 8 combinedfrom an upper half 6 and a lower half 7. This vessel container 8 ismolded from synthetic resin to a cylindrical shape to conform to the gascontainer vessel 3 held within the vessel container. The gas containervessel 3 is retained by the upper and lower halves 6, 7 so as not to bemoved or displaced within the vessel container 8.

An opening/closure actuating mechanism 9, used for opening or closingthe pressurized-fluid control mechanism 1, is provided on the side theupper half 6 of the vessel container 8, as will be describedsubsequently in detail.

The pressurized-fluid control mechanism 1, controlling the ejection ofcarbonic gas C, charged into the gas container vessel 3, includes avalve box 11, mounted so as to be engaged in the reduced-diameterportion 3 b of the gas container vessel 3, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.The valve box 11 includes a tubular valve box main 12, engaged in thereduced-diameter portion 3 b, and a sealing plate 13. This sealing plate13, mounted as one with an upper end of the valve box main 12, closesthe end opening 4 of the reduced-diameter portion 3 b.

An outer peripheral surface of the valve box main 12 has a threadedportion 15 engaged with a mating threaded portion 14 formed on the innerperipheral surface of the reduced-diameter portion 3 b. The valve box 11is mounted on the reduced-diameter portion 3 b by screwing the threadedportion 15 provided on the valve box main 12 to the mating threadedportion 14 of the reduced-diameter portion 3 b, as shown in FIG. 2.

The valve box 11 is formed of a synthetic resin, such as a polyacetalresin. The crest and the root of the threaded portion 15 provided on thevalve box 11 formed of the synthetic resin are set so as to be slightlylarger than those of the mating threaded portion 14 of thereduced-diameter portion 3 b. By so doing, the threaded portion 15 isscrewed to the mating threaded portion 14 of metal as the threadedportion 15 becomes deformed by engagement with the metal threads. As aresult, the outer peripheral surface of the valve box main 12 ishermetically sealed against the inner peripheral surface of thereduced-diameter portion 3 b to inhibit gas leakage from the outerperipheral surface of the valve box main 12.

The sealing plate 13 is formed as one with the valve box main 12 so asto close an upper end opening of the tubular valve box main 12 as shownin FIGS. 2 and 3. The sealing plate 13 is formed as a disc and is formedon its outer periphery with a flange 16 of a diameter larger than theouter diameter of the valve box main 12, as shown in FIG. 3. When thevalve box main 12 is fitted on the reduced-diameter portion 3 b, theflange16 abuts against an upper end face of the reduced-diameter portion3 b to regulate the mounting position of the valve box 11 with respectto the gas container vessel 3.

The sealing plate 13 has a gas ejection opening 18 at its centerposition for ejecting the carbonic gas C filled in the gas containervessel 3 to outside of the vessel. This gas ejection opening 18 has itsopening/closure controlled by an acute pointed member 17 moved back andforth within the valve box main 12 located within the reduced-diameterportion 3 b of the valve box 11.

The acute pointed member 17, controlling the opening/closure of the gasejection opening 18, is formed as a linear member of a smaller diameter.This acute pointed member 17 includes a sealing part 19 at the foremostpart of a proximal side shank part 17 a, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Thissealing part 19 fits in the gas ejection opening 18 to hermetically sealthe gas ejection opening 18, and is tapered from the shank part 17 atowards its foremost portion. That is, the sealing part 19 is taperedtowards the foremost acute end via a conically inclined terminalportion.

The gas ejection opening 18, in which the sealing part 19 is fitted, hasis inner peripheral surface tapered in keeping with the profile of thesealing part 19, as shown in FIG. 4. The gas ejection opening 18 isformed by thrusting the acute pointed member 17 of metal through thesealing plate 13 of synthetic resin. Preferably, the gas ejectionopening 18 is formed by the acute pointed member 17 used later forclosing the gas ejection opening 18. By forming the gas ejection opening18 by the acute pointed member 17 in this manner, the shape of the gasejection opening 18 may be made coincident with that of the acutepointed member 17, thereby improving the hermetic sealing property bythe acute pointed member 17.

The sealing part 19, fitted in and closing the gas ejection opening 18,is tapered and, when it has closed the gas ejection opening 18, itsdistal end is protruded by a preset length from the sealing plate 13, asshown in FIG. 2. That is, the sealing part 19 has a tapered terminalportion of such a length that, when a mid part of the conically inclinedsurface progressively increasing in diameter from its distal end towardsits proximal end is fitted in and retained by the gas ejection opening18, as the sealing part is inserted into the gas ejection opening 18,the foremost part of the sealing part 19 is protruded by a preset amountfrom the sealing plate 13.

The portion of the sealing part 19 protruded from the sealing plate 13is used as a thrust part 21 acted on by an opening/closure actuatingmember 20 that causes fore-and-aft movement of the acute pointed member17 relative to the gas ejection opening 18, as later explained.

The acute pointed member 17 is housed within the valve box main 12operating as a movement guide means. The acute pointed member 17 iscarried by a movable member 22 guided in its movement direction by thevalve box main 12. The acute pointed member is movably arranged withinthe valve box main 12 for movement in unison with the movable member 22in a back-and-forth direction relative to the gas ejection opening 18 asindicated by arrows Y₁ and Y₂. The movable member 22 is thus of a sizesuch that it can be moved within the valve box main 12.

The acute pointed member 17 is mounted on the movable member 22, as theshank 17 a on its proximal side is introduced into and carried by thecylindrically-shaped movable member 22 and as the sealing part 19 on itsdistal side is protruded from the movable member 22. A retention step 17b is formed at the proximal end of the shank 17 b of the acute pointedmember 17. The acute pointed member 17 is mounted on the movable member22 with the retention step 17 b abutting against the proximal end faceof the movable member 22 in order to regulate the amount of protrusionof the sealing part 19 from the distal end face of the movable member22.

The movable member 22, carrying the acute pointed member 17, is arrangedwithin the valve box main 12, as the sealing part 19 at the distal endside of the acute pointed member 17 is inserted into the gas ejectionopening 18, as shown in FIG. 2. The movable member 22, arranged withinthe valve box main 12, is biased for movement in the direction indicatedby arrow Y₁ in FIG. 2 by a coil spring 23 which is an elastic memberarranged between the movable member 22 and the valve box main 12. Thatis, the movable member 22 is biased for movement in a direction in whichthe sealing part 19 at the distal side end of the acute pointed member17 carried by the movable member 22 will be protruded and introducedinto the gas ejection opening 18.

Meanwhile, the coil spring 23 is retained by a retention step 22 a and aspring support member 24, as shown in FIG. 2. The retention step isformed at a mid portion of the movable member 22, and the spring supportmember is fitted to the proximal end of the valve box main 12. The coilspring biases the movable member 22 in a direction of projecting thesealing part 19 out of the gas ejection opening 18.

In the pressurized-fluid control mechanism 1 according to the presentinvention, the gas ejection opening 18 bored in the sealing plate 13 isstopped just by the sealing part 19 of the acute pointed member 17arranged within the gas container vessel 3. That is, in the presentembodiment, when the acute pointed member 17 is fitted in the gasejection opening 18 to stop this gas ejection opening, the movablemember 22 is located halfway in the valve box main 12, with the movablemember thus being held in a floated state within the valve box main 12.

In the outer peripheral surface of the movable member 22, there areformed a plurality of flutes 25 that provide passageways for thepressurized fluid between the outer peripheral surface of the movablemember and the inner peripheral surface of the valve box main 12, asshown in FIG. 3. These flutes 25 are continuously formed from theproximal end towards the distal end of the movable member 22. By theseflutes 25, the carbonic gas C, filled in the gas container vessel 3, ischarged via the flutes 25 into a spacing 26 delimited between the distalend face of the movable member 22 and the sealing plate 13 to equalizethe pressure in the vessel main 3 a of the gas container vessel 3 withthat in the spacing 26. As a result, the force acting in the directionof introducing the acute pointed member 17 into the gas ejection opening18 is just the biasing force of the coil spring 23 plus the force of thecarbonic gas, as the pressurized fluid, acting on the acute pointedmember 17. The force of the pressurized fluid on the acute pointedmember 17 is the force acting on a surface corresponding to thecross-sectional area of the acute pointed member 17, and may thus bemade sufficiently small in comparison with the pressure of thepressurized fluid filled in the gas container vessel 3.

In the present embodiment, the gas ejection opening 18 bored in thesealing plate 13 has a diameter on the order of 0.3 mm to 1 mm, whilethe acute pointed member 17, carrying the tapered sealing part 19, is soformed that its shank part 17 a has a diameter R₁ on the order of 1.3 mmto 0.8 mm. The pressure of the liquefied carbonic gas, charged into thegas container vessel 3, is ca. 70 atm. The force applied from thepressurized carbonic gas to the acute pointed member 17 is on the orderof 400 gf to 600 gf.

If the acute pointed member 17 is thrust in the direction of arrow Y₁ inFIG. 2 with a force of insertion just sufficient to keep the gasejection opening 18 in its closed state, the gas ejection opening 18 maybe kept hermetically sealed to inhibit gas leakage. If, in the presentembodiment, the acute pointed member 17 is thrust by a thrust force onthe order of 1 kgf to 2 kgf in a direction indicated by arrow Y₁ in FIG.2, it is possible to prevent the carbonic gas from flowing out to keepthe gas ejection opening 18 closed. In the present embodiment, the coilspring 23 having the biasing force on the order of 1 kgf to 1.5 kgf issufficient as the biasing member that biases the acute pointed member 17in the direction of closing the gas ejection opening 18.

Since the force acting on the acute pointed member 17 may thus bedecreased, a smaller force that causes movement of the acute pointedmember 17 from its state of closing the gas ejection opening 18 in thedirection of opening the gas ejection opening 18 suffices. Since theforce that produces movement of the acute pointed member 17 may safelybe reduced, the mechanism of controlling the ejection of the gas as thepressurized fluid charged into the gas container vessel 3 may be simplerin structure. In addition, since a smaller force suffices, it ispossible to construct an ejection control mechanism with optimumoperability. A tubular actuation member insertion unit 27 is also formedas one with the valve box 11 for encircling the gas ejection opening 18.The distal end of the sealing part 19, formed as one with the acutepointed member 17, projected from the gas ejection opening 18, isdisposed within the tubular actuation member insertion unit 27. Thistubular actuation member insertion unit 27 performs the role ofprotecting the sealing part 19 protruded via the gas ejection opening18. In addition, the opening/closure actuating member 20, composing theopening/closure actuating mechanism 9 operating for opening/closing thegas ejection opening 18, is introduced into this tubular actuationmember insertion unit 27 so as to perform a back-and-forth movementtherein.

A nozzle unit 32, including a nozzle member 31 that ejects the carbonicgas via the gas ejection opening 18, is mounted on the distal end of thetubular actuation member insertion unit 27. The proximal end of thenozzle unit 32 includes a tubular fitting portion 33 in which thetubular actuation member insertion unit 27 has a fit. The upper end ofthe nozzle unit 32 includes an insertion guide portion 34. The fittingportion 33 and the insertion guide portion 34 are co-axial relative toeach other. The nozzle member 31 is adapted to be projected sidewaysfrom a mid part of the nozzle unit 32 on top of the fitting portion 33.

The nozzle unit 32 is mounted on the valve box 11 as the fitting portion33 is fitted over the tubular actuation member insertion unit 27. Thenozzle unit 32 is mounted at this time in position over the tubularactuation member insertion unit 27, so that the proximal end of thenozzle 31 is disposed in the vicinity of the actuation member insertionunit 27, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The nozzle member 31 is now in fluidcommunication with the actuation member insertion unit 27.

The nozzle unit 32, constructed as described above, is mounted on thevalve box 11 with the fitting portion 33 fitted on the actuation memberinsertion unit 27. The nozzle unit 32 is mounted at this time inposition with the proximal end of the fitting portion 33 fitted on thetubular actuation member insertion unit 27. The nozzle member 31 thus isin fluid communication with the actuation member insertion unit 27.

The opening/closure actuating mechanism 9, adapted for opening/closingthe gas ejection opening 18, includes the opening/closure actuatingmember 20 and an opening/closing lever 37, as shown in FIG. 2. Theopening/closure actuating member 20 is introduced via the insertionguide portion 34 of the nozzle unit 32 into the actuation memberinsertion unit 27, and the opening/closing lever 37 serves for thrustingand thereby actuating the opening/closure actuating member 20. Theopening/closure actuating member 20 is formed by a shank-like member,and includes a shank part 20 a and a thrusting head part 20 b. The shankpart 20 a is introduced into the actuation member insertion unit 27 viathe insertion guide portion 34, and the thrusting head part 20 b isformed at the terminal end of the shank part 20 a. Referring to FIG. 2,the opening/closure actuating member 20 is introduced into the actuationmember insertion unit 27 so that the proximal end of the shank part 20 aabuts against the thrust part 21 at the distal end of the sealing part19. The opening/closure actuating member 20 is biased by the coil spring23 in the same direction as the acute pointed member 17, indicated byarrow Y₁ in FIG. 2, as the shank part 20 a is introduced into theactuation member insertion unit 27. The coil spring 23 biases the acutepointed member 17, as previously mentioned.

The foremost part of the insertion guide portion 34, into which theopening/closure actuating member 20 has been inserted and which is influid communication with the actuation member insertion unit 27, issealed by a sealing member 43 to prevent gas leakage.

The opening/closing lever 37, thrusting the opening/closure actuatingmember 20, is formed as one with an upper plate 39 of a cap 38 mountedon an upper side of the upper half 6 of the vessel container 8. This cap38 is molded from a synthetic resin, and is mounted on the upper half 6so as to overlie the opening/closure actuating member 20. Theopening/closure actuating member is mounted by having its shank part 20a introduced from the insertion guide portion 34 of the nozzle unit 32into the inside of the actuation member insertion unit 27. Theopening/closing lever 37 is provided for facing the head part 20 b ofthe opening/closure actuating member 20 of the upper plate 39. Theopening/closing lever 37 is formed as by partially cutting the upperplate 39 in the form of a letter U, and is adapted to be rotationallydisplaced along the direction of arrow X₁ or arrow X₂ in FIG. 2, with aconnecting portion to the upper plate 39 as a hinge 40. Theopening/closing lever 37 is formed so that, when the cap 38 is mountedon the upper half 6, a mid part of the opening/closing lever abuts onthe thrusting head part 20 b of the opening/closure actuating member 20.The opening/closing lever 37 is also formed so that its mid part abutsat all times on the thrusting head part 20 b with a small thrustingforce. That is, the opening/closing lever 37 is formed so that, when thecap 38 is mounted on the upper half 6, a biasing force will be generatedfor acting in a direction indicated by arrow X₁ in FIG. 2. Hence, theopening/closing lever 37 is contacted with the opening/closure actuatingmember 20 in a state in which the opening/closing lever is acted on bythe biasing force of the coil spring 23 adapted for thrusting andbiasing the acute pointed member 17.

Meanwhile, when the cap 38 is mounted on the upper half 6, the distalend of the nozzle member 31 is projected laterally of the cap 38 via acut-out 41 formed in a lateral surface of the cap 38. An ejection nozzle44 is mounted on the distal end of the nozzle 31 as necessary.

In the pressurized-fluid control mechanism 1, described above, when theopening/closing lever 37 is turned in the direction indicated by arrowX₁ in FIG. 2, the opening/closure actuating member 20 is moved in adirection indicated by arrow Y₂ in FIG. 2. By this opening/closureactuating member 20, the acute pointed member 17 is thrust in thedirection indicated by arrow Y₂ in FIG. 2 against the bias of the coilspring 23. The acute pointed member 17 is thus moved towards a moreinner area in the gas container vessel 3. When the acute pointed member17 is moved in the direction indicated by arrow Y₂ in FIG. 2, there isproduced a gap D between the tapered sealing part 19 and the tapered gasejection opening 18, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The carbonic gas C,charged into the container vessel 3, is ejected into the nozzle unit 32via the gap D and the actuation member insertion unit 27. The carbonicgas C, thus ejected into the nozzle unit 32, is ejected outwards via thenozzle member 31.

In the present embodiment, the gas ejection opening 18 may be kept in anopened state to allow sustained ejection of the carbonic gas C if theopening/closing lever 37 is kept in a state it has been turned in thedirection indicated by arrow X₁, the opening/closure actuating member 20has been moved in the direction indicated by arrow Y₂ in FIG. 2 and theacute pointed member 17 has been moved in the direction indicated byarrow Y₂ in FIG. 5.

When the opening/closing lever 37 is released from the thrust state inwhich it is turned as described above, the opening/closure actuatingmember 20 is released from its thrust state. The acute pointed member 17is then moved in the direction of the arrow Y₁ of FIG. 2, under the biasof the coil spring 23. Hence, the sealing part 19 is intruded into thegas ejection opening 18, with the thickened part of the sealing part 19fitting into and stopping the gas ejection opening 18 to halt theejection of the carbonic gas C.

A protective cap 45 is mounted on the cap 38 of the opening/closureactuating mechanism 9 to cover the cap to prevent inadvertent thrustingof the opening/closing lever 37.

In the pressurized-fluid control mechanism 1 of the present embodiment,the gas ejection opening 18 is stopped by the acute pointed member 17except if the opening/closure actuating member 20 is thrust. It is thuspossible to positively prevent outflow of the carbonic gas charged intothe gas container vessel 3. By applying this pressurized-fluid controlmechanism 1 to the Pressurized-Fluid Supply device 2, it is possible torealize a device free from gas leakage.

In addition, in the pressurized-fluid control mechanism 1 of the presentembodiment, there is no necessity of exerting a large biasing force tothe acute pointed member 17 that closes the gas ejection opening 18, asdescribed above. Hence, the opening/closure operation for the gasejection opening 18 is facilitated, so that it is possible to simplifythe mechanism of opening/closing the gas ejection opening 18 tocontribute to reducing the size of the Pressurized-Fluid Supply device 2employing the pressurized-fluid control mechanism 1.

In the above embodiment, the acute pointed member 17 that opens/closesthe gas ejection opening 18 is carried by the movable member 22 andmoved within the valve box main 12 operating as a movement guide unit.The acute pointed member 17 may, however, be supported for movementwithin the valve box main 12, in which case the movable member 22 maynot be used. For example, the proximal end of the acute pointed member17 may directly be supported by one end of the coil spring 23.

In the above embodiment, the Pressurized-Fluid Supply device is filledwith the carbonic gas as a pressurized fluid. The present invention is,however, not limited to the above mentioned embodiment and may beapplied to a Pressurized-Fluid Supply device filled with anotherpressurized fluid.

1. A pressurized-fluid control mechanism mounted on a pressurized fluidcontainer filled with a pressurized fluid to control ejection of apressurized fluid charged into said pressurized fluid container;comprising: an acute pointed member including a sealing part at a distalend thereof; said sealing member being reduced in diameter from aproximal end thereof towards said distal end; and a biasing member forbiasing said acute pointed member; said acute pointed member beingarranged in the inside of said pressurized fluid container and beingmoved back and forth in the inside of said pressurized fluid containerto open or close an ejection opening for said pressurized fluid providedin said pressurized fluid container; said acute pointed member beingbiased by said biasing member so that said sealing part is fitted intosaid ejection opening to close said ejection hole.
 2. Thepressurized-fluid control mechanism according to claim 1, wherein saidacute pointed member is supported by a movable member movable by beingguided by a movement guide provided on said pressurized fluid container;there being formed a passageway for said pressurized fluid between saidmovable member and said movement guide; there being formed a spacingbetween a sealing plate and said movable member when said sealing partof said acute pointed member is fitted in said ejection opening to stopsaid ejection opening; said pressurized fluid charged into saidpressurized fluid container flowing into said spacing.
 3. Thepressurized-fluid control mechanism according to claim 1, wherein thedistal end of said sealing part is protruded via said ejection openingto outside of said pressurized fluid container when said sealing part isfitted in said ejection opening to stop said ejection opening.
 4. Thepressurized-fluid control mechanism according to claim 1, wherein saidacute pointed member is arranged so that the distal end of said sealingpart is protruded from said ejection opening; the portion of said acutepointed member protruded from said ejection opening operating as athrust part.
 5. The pressurized-fluid control mechanism according toclaim 1, wherein said ejection opening is provided in a sealing platethat closes an opening of said pressurized fluid container.
 6. Thepressurized-fluid control mechanism according to claim 5, wherein saidsealing plate is formed of synthetic resin; and wherein said acutepointed member is formed of metal.
 7. A Pressurized-Fluid Supply devicecomprising: a pressurized fluid container filled with a pressurizedfluid; and a pressurized-fluid control mechanism mounted on saidpressurized fluid container; said pressurized-fluid control mechanismopening or closing an ejection opening for said pressurized fluidprovided in said pressurized fluid container to control the ejection ofthe pressurized fluid charged in said pressurized fluid container; saidpressurized-fluid control mechanism including an acute pointed memberincluding a sealing part at a distal end thereof; said sealing partbeing reduced in diameter from a proximal end thereof towards saiddistal end; and a biasing member for biasing said acute pointed member;said acute pointed member being arranged in the inside of saidpressurized fluid container and being moved back and forth in the insideof said pressurized fluid container to open or close an ejection openingfor said pressurized fluid provided in said pressurized fluid container;said acute pointed member being biased by said biasing member so thatsaid sealing part is fitted into said ejection opening to close saidejection hole.
 8. The Pressurized-Fluid Supply device according to claim7, wherein said acute pointed member is supported by a movable membermovable by being guided by a movement guide provided on said pressurizedfluid container; there being formed a passageway for the pressurizedfluid between said movable member and said movement guide; there beingformed a spacing between a sealing plate and said movable member whensaid sealing part of said acute pointed member is fitted in saidejection opening to stop said ejection opening; said pressurized fluidcharged in said pressurized fluid container flowing into said spacing.9. The Pressurized-Fluid Supply device according to claim 7, wherein thedistal end of said sealing part is protruded via said ejection openingto outside of said pressurized fluid container when said sealing part isfitted in said ejection opening to stop said ejection opening.
 10. ThePressurized-Fluid Supply device according to claim 7, wherein said acutepointed member is arranged so that the distal end of said sealing partis protruded from said ejection opening; the portion of said acutepointed member protruded from said ejection opening operating as athrust part.
 11. The Pressurized-Fluid Supply device according to claim7, wherein said ejection opening is provided in a sealing plate thatcloses an opening of said pressurized fluid container.
 12. ThePressurized-Fluid Supply device according to claim 11, wherein saidsealing plate is formed of synthetic resin; and wherein said acutepointed member is formed of metal.
 13. The Pressurized-Fluid Supplydevice according to claim 7, further comprising: an opening/closureactuating mechanism that thrusts said acute pointed member against thebiasing force of said biasing member to open or close said ejectionopening.